Brief Communications
What is the evidence status of Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC)? Insight from a matching exercise with the guidelines for echocardiography
R. Fonseca,
K. Negishi,
T. H. Marwick,
R. Fonseca
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorK. Negishi
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
T. H. Marwick
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Australia
Correspondence
Thomas H. Marwick, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorR. Fonseca,
K. Negishi,
T. H. Marwick,
R. Fonseca
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorK. Negishi
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
T. H. Marwick
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Australia
Correspondence
Thomas H. Marwick, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tas. 7000, Australia.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFunding: R. Fonseca is supported by a scholarship from the Farrell Foundation, Hobart, Australia.
Conflict of interest: None.
Abstract
There is interest in adapting the American Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for transthoracic echocardiography to Australian practice. We matched 90 of 98 AUC with the guidelines (53 appropriate, 12 sometimes appropriate, 25 rarely appropriate), but eight lacked any match. Among the matched criteria, 76 (82%) indications were concordant with the guidelines. A stronger evidence base would be desirable to settle these discrepancies before Australian adoption of AUC.
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